Baku: An investigation into Azerbaijan's prison system reveals a deeply troubling environment marked by corruption, inadequate facilities, and mistreatment of inmates.
According to Global Voices, the conditions within these prisons have been exposed by the ongoing efforts of imprisoned journalists and activists.
Sevinc Vagifgizi, an investigative journalist sentenced to nine years in connection with the Abzas Media case, has highlighted the struggles faced by inmates. When she requested a fan to combat the oppressive heat of her cell, the head of the Baku Pretrial Detention Center, Elnur Ismayilov, demanded she delete reports on prison conditions as a condition for allowing the fan. Vagifgizi refused, asserting her right to basic amenities.
Inmates rely on family visits for food, stored in inadequate communal fridges. Of nine refrigerators, one is broken, four are outdated, and spoiled food is common. Complaints to the administration resulted in a temporary fix, with Deputy Warden Ahad Abdiyev ordering freon to be pumped into the fridges, a solution unlikely to resolve the underlying issues.
Prisoners endure extreme heat, with fans in short supply and often available only to those who can afford them. Cells are overcrowded, with insufficient fans that inmates must purchase themselves. The lack of a central ventilation system exacerbates the situation, leaving inmates, especially those with health conditions, to suffer.
The prison water supply is heavily chlorinated and undrinkable, with hot water available only five hours per week. Some cells lack basic bathroom infrastructure, forcing women to shower in pairs or resort to makeshift solutions. Inmates depend on electric kettles for hot water, but these frequently break and require personal replacement.
Despite significant state and EU funding, prison conditions remain dire. Ill-treatment and torture are common, with reports from local journalists and the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture documenting these abuses. The Azerbaijani authorities have been criticized for their lack of cooperation and inaction in addressing these issues.
In response to the refusal to comply with a court order, Abzas Media director Ulvi Hasanli began a hunger strike, joined by other imprisoned journalists in protest. The prison authorities retaliated by transferring the journalists to unsanitary cells and reducing water supply, affecting all inmates in the section.
The increase in imprisoned journalists has drawn attention to the harsh realities of Azerbaijan's prison system. While they continue to face personal repercussions, their reporting sheds light on the environment of impunity and rights violations within the system.